by G. K. DeRosa
Fury exploded in my core and darkness edged into the corners of my vision. Let me finish him now. He deserves death at our hands. My inner demon clawed her way to the surface, dark tendrils of energy sweeping over me. No. No. No. I fought the raging darkness with everything I had. I couldn’t lose control now, it would only prove that Thax had won.
Talon. I focused on the one thing that was stronger than the fury, more powerful than the hunger for revenge. I envisioned those blazing silver irises, the ones ingrained in my deepest memories despite Thax’s best attempts to eradicate them.
With one final deep breath, I shoved my demon down. The darkness cleared from my vision and only a stunned ousted warlord remained. I revealed the dagger, running a finger across the gleaming blade. “I told you I’m stronger now.” I shot him a grin. “Delacroix was right. Killing you would be much too merciful. You deserve to rot down here for the rest of your miserable days.”
Thundering footfalls wrenched my attention to the entrance of the cell. The door to the dungeon flew across the passageway, wood splintering in a shower of sharp projectiles. Talon raced into the enclosure, his eyes wild. “Azara, are you okay?”
I nodded with one last glance at the fallen dark lord. “Yeah, Thax can’t hurt me anymore.”
Talon’s arm came around my shoulders, and I melted into his side. He led me out of the cell, and I slammed the door closed with a satisfying crack.
“One more thing, Azara.” Thax’s raspy voice drew my attention. I stopped but didn’t turn back around. “I’d keep an eye on your new friend Delacroix. He played me for months, and I’m not one easily fooled. If the oracle’s visions were right and you will one day sit the throne of the sixth realm, that makes you as much of a threat to Delacroix as you were to me.”
Talon’s grip around my waist tightened, and I happily leaned into him. “Then we’ll kill him too,” he growled against my ear. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
I picked up my pace and never looked back.
The soothing sounds of the bustling prison cafeteria lulled my whirling thoughts. Despite my best attempts at putting Thax behind me, I couldn’t get his parting words out of my mind.
“What do you think Lucifer will have to say about your little visit with Delacroix?” Hayden shoveled a big bite of fruity kids’ cereal into his mouth, watching me from across the table. For the first time since my return from the psych ward, Talon had left my security detail in the hands of our angel cellie. He’d been called in for a meeting with the director, regarding my Most Wanted status. That did not bode well for any of us.
“I don’t really care what he says,” I finally answered. “I did what he asked, talked to Delacroix, scoped out the situation and things don’t seem half as bad as he made them out to be. I have a feeling dear old grandad is just trying to find any reason to lure me back to the Underworld.”
“Dark Lord Azara.” Hayden smirked. “I kinda like the sound of that.”
I shot him a good eyeroll and poked at my bowl of tasteless oatmeal. Maybe the angel did have the right idea with colorful cereal as an alternative. “You know that would go over like a lead balloon with your dragon buddy.”
He pointed his spoon at me as he munched. “You’ve got me there. And it seems like things are going well with you two, so we don’t want to do anything to ruin that, right?”
I nodded quickly. I wanted to put all this craziness behind me and start a new life with Talon. Too bad the SIA was putting a slight hitch in my plan.
“Don’t worry, Talon will work something out with Maxim. If anyone can figure a way around this mess, it’s him.”
“I hope so.”
The familiar chatter of my pixie bestie turned my gaze to an approaching Flix and Valeria. “Hey, girl.” He folded his lithe frame into the chair beside me, and Valeria followed suit.
“Where have you been?” she asked. “We haven’t seen you in days.”
“Psych,” Hayden answered when I remained mute.
“Yeah, I don’t like talking about it,” I countered lamely. Maybe it was a good thing I never became an agent, I was so not good at coming up with lies on the quick.
“Are you okay?” Flix’s mossy green eyes fixed on mine.
“Yes. It was some missing memory stuff again.”
“So you’ll be at yoga this afternoon?” Valeria asked.
I glanced over at my temporary bodyguard, and a beaming smile spread his lips. “Of course, she will. We wouldn’t miss it.”
I should’ve known the horny angel would be all in on the chance to see the female inmates in downward dog.
“Where’s Talon?” Valeria leaned in, her perfectly plucked brows arched.
“Some special work assignment with Actaeon.” Yes! I was getting better at this lying thing by the minute.
“Why so many questions?” Hayden’s expression darkened as he regarded the blonde pixie.
She shrank back in her seat, her shoulders caving in. “Nothing, no reason. Just curious.”
Flix shot Hayden a megawatt smile. “Don’t mind my friend here. She’s smitten with your dragon buddy. No need to get defensive.”
The angel pressed his lips together and returned his attention to his breakfast. I chatted with my friends for a little longer before the buzzer rang, announcing the end of mealtime.
As Hayden escorted me back to Block One, I couldn’t help the swirl of unease in my gut. Every minute that Talon was away only increased the blooming dread. What if Maxim had somehow discovered I was here? What if he punished Talon for it?
Hayden nudged me in the side as we reached our cell. With my thoughts on Talon, I’d almost missed it. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m just worried about Talon.”
“T can handle himself with Maxim. They go a long way back.”
“Then what’s taking him so long?”
He shrugged. “Could be lots of things.”
“I’m sorry for dragging you guys into this mess. Talon has his reasons, but it’s not really fair for you and Dallas.”
Hayden squeezed my shoulders, dipping his tall frame so we were eye to eye. “Listen, Azara, Talon is my brother, and he loves you like nothing I’ve ever seen. So that makes you my sister, our family. We’re in this together now so don’t ever apologize again, okay?”
A knot of emotion tightened my throat, and I swallowed thickly. “Thanks, Hayden,” I mumbled.
“Don’t mention it, little pumpkin.”
I couldn’t help the smile from lighting up my face as Hayden swept his wrist over the scanner and the door to our cell whooshed open. I may have lost a lot since my arrival at Darkblood Prison, but I’d gained more.
Chapter Eight
The days passed in a blur, my prison routine becoming second nature again. In addition to the physical training with Talon, GG was coming a few times a week to help hone my warlock magic. Those hours spent with my grandfather were some of my favorites. Talon had miraculously convinced the director of the SIA to keep him and the team on my case for another few weeks, which bought us until the end of the month.
GG was trying to help, but beyond robbing Maxim of his memories of my crime, there wasn’t much he could do to reverse my sentence. After what Thax had done to me, I resolved to save that option as a very last resort. Talon still believed there could be a way to explain away my rampant soul-sucking spree, but I wasn’t quite as optimistic.
“Azara, are you watching this? Don’t you have family in the human world?” Flix’s voice caught my attention, diverting it from my swirling thoughts.
I glanced at the TV screen in the rec room and the news program everyone’s eyes were glued to. “What’s going on?”
A series of gruesome images flashed across the screen. An entire neighborhood in Manhattan had been attacked by demons. Dozens of humans had been killed and still more injured. The reporter flashed to a man in a hospital bed as he recounted details of the unprovoked assault.
Another image app
“Apparently, it’s the third attack this week,” said Flix. “Your Underworld brethren seem to be on a mission of mayhem.”
My head spun to Talon who stood by the door deep in conversation with one of the gargoyle guards. How had I not heard about this?
“I need to talk to Talon. I’ll be back.” I leapt out of my seat before Flix could say a word and darted to the back of the room.
The C.O. eyed me as I approached, and they both stopped speaking.
“Azara.” Talon gave me a tight smile.
“What’s going on? Flix said this isn’t the first attack.”
He wrapped his fingers around my forearm and drew me away from the guard to the corner of the room. “There have been a few skirmishes in the human world over the past week or so.”
“How many is a few?”
Talon’s lips pinched. “Not all have been reported by the news. The Azarian government has been trying to keep a tight lid on it.”
“How many, Talon?”
He blew out a breath. “Reported instances in at least five cities, a few dozen attacks at least. Like I said, a lot of it has been covered up.”
“So what is the SIA doing to stop it?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve been avoiding Maxim…”
“Because of me.”
Talon nodded. “This isn’t your responsibility, Azara.”
“No? You don’t think this is because of Delacroix’s inability to rein in his new realm?” My gaze flickered to the images on the TV screen. Stores had been looted, buildings had been burnt down, and humans were dead.
“We don’t know that for sure.”
I popped my hands on my hips and stared up at him. “Let’s find out then.” If Lucifer had been right, we were screwed. We’d have no choice but to intervene. Strangely enough, I hadn’t heard a single peep from my grandfather in the past few days.
“Fine,” he huffed.
I towed him across the room to where the gargoyle C.O. stood watching us. “We need to see Logan right away. It’s urgent.” Unlike the old dragon corrections’ officers, all the new guards were apprised of the Triad’s true identities. Logan trusted his guys, not like the former warden’s team. The hulking sentinel peered down at me before pivoting his gaze to Talon. They still didn’t know exactly what to make of me. Apparently, Logan didn’t trust them enough to go into my messy background story.
Talon nodded at the gargoyle, and he quickly pressed his finger to the com behind his ear. “Warden, you available for visitors?”
I couldn’t hear Logan’s response, but I assumed he’d agreed because the C.O. unlocked the rec room door and ushered us into the hallway.
“Thanks, Jasic,” Talon muttered.
With a quick nod, the gargoyle returned to his post, leaving us in the quiet passageway. As I stomped toward the warden’s office, I couldn’t shake the images of destruction I’d seen on the news. I understood how I could’ve missed it, being incarcerated and all, but how did Logan? Surely, the Gargoyle Guardian Council must have kept him apprised of the situation. “Why wouldn’t Logan tell us about this?” I hissed as I took the steps up two at a time.
Talon’s gaze dipped to the floor. “Not sure. Maybe he’s been busy.”
I slammed my arm across his chest, halting him midstride. His eyes were still glued to his feet. “Talon… are you not telling me something?”
His traitorous eyes finally met mine as he chewed on his lower lip. “Logan told me what was going on, and we decided to hold off on telling you until we knew more.”
I gasped, the sting of betrayal piercing my chest. “How could you keep this from me?”
“We were trying to protect you, Azara.”
My head whipped back and forth. “This is my fault, and I need to make it right.”
“Which is exactly why we didn’t tell you. Running off to the Underworld half-cocked to fix this will only put you in danger. What exactly do you see as the solution to this situation anyway?”
“I. Don’t. Know.” I stomped my foot, in full tantrum mode now.
“I’m sorry, Azara, but we have to leave this to the SIA to sort out.”
I jabbed my finger into his chest. “But you are the SIA—”
“And my current mission is to capture you, dead or alive.” The intensity of emotions churning within his smoldering irises as he gripped my shoulders stole my breath. “I can’t lose you again. I won’t. I wouldn’t survive it a second time, Azara. So yes, I kept the truth from you, and I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
My lungs constricted, a steel band wrapping around my chest. His words were like a cold shower to the building fiery fury within. Gods, this man loved me more than I deserved.
“I’ve also had my warlock friend intercepting Lucifer’s messages to you,” Talon added.
My jaw dropped, all the warm and fuzzies from a second ago, vanishing. “Are you crazy? What if it had been something important?”
“It wasn’t. I checked.”
“Talon!” I smacked my palm into his chest. And regretted it immediately. The sting raced across my palm, and I cradled my hand gently.
“I’m sorry. But I’m not really, because at least you’re safe.”
“You think this will just go away?”
“Eventually, yes. The warlords will fight about it until either Delacroix’s rule is confirmed or a stronger dark lord rises. It’s the way of the Underworld.”
“And in the meantime, while they’re squabbling and the wards of the sixth realm are down, how many humans will die?” As I spoke the words, I wasn’t even sure where this fervor was coming from. Sure, I’d grown up with stories of my parents’ heroic feats, but I’d never pictured that life for myself. Maybe a tiny part of me hoped I could redeem my past dark deeds by doing some good.
Talon blew out a frustrated breath and tugged me up the remaining stairs. “Let’s talk to Logan and see what he has to say.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
We turned the corner for the second floor, Talon halted, and I smacked right into his broad back. What the…? Rising to my tiptoes, I caught sight of Dembrat and a few of Delacroix’s old posse over the dragon’s shoulder.
“What do you want?” Talon barked and tucked me further behind him.
The stocky elf folded his arms across his chest and looked him right in the eye, like the massive dragon shifter wasn’t scary as eff. “A word with the leader of the Triad, of course.”
“So talk.”
I inched forward as anxiety coated my veins.
“Dark Lord Delacroix is calling in the favor he is owed by the Triad.”
Oh, shitzu. I knew this day would come.
“What exactly does he want from us?” Talon replied coolly.
“He needs your assistance to rein in a few rebellious warlords. He wishes to cement his claim as dark lord, and he feels you and your brothers could provide that bit of assurance.”
I bet he does. If the Underworlders see a dragon, an angel and a vampire on the new warlord’s side, it would give him the credibility he needs to survive.
Talon nodded, his jaw clenched. “Tell Balthier we’ll be there tonight, but after this, we’re done.”
“Of course.” The elf shot us a toothy smile. “We had a deal after all.” Talon moved to march past him, but he raised a stubby little finger. “One more thing. The dark lord requests Azara’s presence as well.”
My thoughts scrambled for purchase. Maybe this was a good thing after all. If the Triad succeeded in securing Delacroix’s position as the new dark lord, the internal fighting would die down and everything could go back to normal.
“No deal,” Talon snapped. “I’m the one that owes him that favor, not Azara.”
I grabbed Talon’s arm and pulled him closer. “I’m going. This is my fight too, and I need to be there.”
“It’s much too dangerous,” he hissed.
“It’s better than the alternative, isn’t it? If we succeed in shutting this insurrection down, that’ll be the end of it, Talon. Then we can get on with our lives. Lucifer will have no reason for insisting on my rule. Please, let me do this.” I was going whether he approved or not, but I figured I’d give him the chance to agree.
His nostrils flared and he grunted, but his head dipped slowly anyway. “Don’t make me regret this, Azara.” Then he turned to Dembrat, a scowl carved into his lips. “Tell Delacroix we’ll all be there as requested.”
“Wonderful.” The elf spun around, and his demon entourage closed in around him. As soon as they disappeared down the stairs, we continued our way down the hall to the warden’s office.
My demon flared to life in my core, and a wave of giddiness splashed over me. After the unusual period of tranquility, she was jonesing for a fight, and so was I.
Chapter Nine
I sucked in a breath as we approached the looming fortress, dark spires twisting up to the gray, ashen sky. My heartbeats quickened with every step. Dozens of dark figures had amassed around the murky water of the castle moat.
“Friends or foes?” Dallas quipped.
“Probably a bit of both.” Talon’s hold on my hand tightened. I wiggled my fingers to keep the blood flowing beneath his iron grip.
The welcome wagon for our second trip to the new dark lord’s castle was much more elaborate than the first. Delacroix, in his finest warlord attire of leather breeches and matching jerkin, along with his narkin guards and a dozen high level demons greeted us at the foot of the drawbridge.
“Welcome back, lady and gentlemen.” Delacroix dipped into an extravagant bow.
“What happened? You couldn’t keep the demons in check for more than a few weeks?” Talon shot the hellus demon a cheeky grin.
“Some battles are not worth fighting alone,” he countered. Whirling to the long bridge, he motioned for us to follow. “Come, we have much to discuss.” The narkins spread out across the ancient timber planks, their spears at their sides as we passed.
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